by Paula Lester
“You’re joking.”
“I wish I was. It was quite obvious to me, but I had to prove it to the second man. He made me pull up a website on his newfangled phone and show him what it was supposed to look like.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “You’ve never seen someone so angry before. Why, he swore up a blue streak, and I had to ask him to leave.”
“What did this second guy look like?”
He pursed his lips as though thinking hard. “Well, let’s see. He had on shorts and a gym-rat shirt. Fancy hair. Stupid looking shoes.”
Ricardo. He had to mean Ricardo with his casino-typical outfit of a casino tank top and flip flops. Along with his fluffy toupee, the description matched him to a tee.
That was it. Chet must have double-crossed Ricardo, selling him a fake baseball card and refusing to give back the money.
“Thanks,” she said. “I appreciate your time.”
“No problem.” He smiled. “Are you in the market for something nice for yourself? Maybe a fancy gold bracelet?” He pointed to a gaudy number with costume jewels on it.
“Oh, my. That’s lovely,” Tessa lied. “I’ll have to pass. I’ve just started a new job, and I’m still catching up on bills. I’ll keep it in mind for when I have some extra cash, though.”
She didn’t bite her lip, but she rambled. Another tell. She was making a list.
She left, planning to go back to the casino to confront Ricardo, but then her phone buzzed. She pulled it out and checked it. A text from her mother: Check your email. You have a new assignment.
Tessa clicked over to her email account and found the new message. She opened it, and her mouth fell open.
Her new target was Ricardo Vidale.
Chapter 18
The assignment was at the same golf club as her first—the same one her dad had frequented when he was alive. Tessa re-read the details three times before realizing it was going to happen at the golf tournament the casino was sponsoring. The one Melinda had mentioned the day before.
She glanced at the sky hopefully, but there was no way lightning would strike twice. Not on the same green in such short order.
Could it?
She scanned the document again and blinked after reading the cause of death.
Well, that’s interesting.
Tessa gave herself plenty of time that morning to get there. But she breathed a sigh of relief when Linda started anyway.
“You’ve been so great lately,” she gushed. “I’m definitely going to use some of my next paycheck to get you a tune-up. Especially if you get me to this assignment on time.”
As she drove to the golf course, Tessa’s mind raced. Ricardo must have been furious about Chet selling him a fake baseball card. It must’ve been worth a lot of money. Enough to kill over.
But why Horner? Tessa thought maybe he was getting close to fingering Ricardo for the crime. She knew criminals often worked in irrational and erratic ways. It troubled her how she’d drank a beer Ricardo bought her. She couldn’t help but think their conversation might’ve led him down the path of harming Horner. She’d mentioned Melinda Chino. Did I mention her goons too? She shuddered. Ricardo could’ve poisoned her if she’d walked away from her drink for a moment.
And now it was her job to escort him to the other side.
Strange how, after everything that had happened over the past week, Ricardo would be taken out by a freak accident. Maybe there was such a thing as karma. She made a mental note to ask her mother or Gloria about that.
Wearing a blue polo and mid-thigh khaki shorts, Tessa managed to blend in with the crowd at the golf course. She snuck through the club onto the green again.
The area closest to the building was bustling. Tents were set up with tables under them, and the casino’s logo was plastered on everything. There was a makeshift covered stage with a DJ, and golf carts came and went through the crowd.
Tessa threaded her way through the gaggle of golfers looking for Ricardo, but she couldn’t spot him. Despite her timeliness, she started feeling nervous, like she might lose another soul. Ricardo’s soul . . . oi. There was just no way she could let that happen. Cheryl would absolutely never, ever stop lecturing if she did.
She hurried onto the green, passing a shiny red car perched at the top of the hill. It was covered in magnetic signs proclaiming it to be the grand prize for the hole in one contest.
She scanned the valley below, one hand over her eyes to shield them from the sun’s interfering glare. There were golfers spread out over the area, in pairs and foursomes, and she couldn’t tell one from the other at that distance. She started down the hill.
It was really only chance that set her on the right path. At least, that’s what it seemed like. Later, Tessa would wonder if it was part of her reaper powers—maybe some kind of radar. Whatever it was, when she crested a hill, she caught sight of Ricardo near a creek. The water hazard wound around the edge of the golf course. Next to a copse of trees.
Ricardo wasn’t alone. Tessa recognized Maddox’s man bun. As she approached, she could hear them talking. She slowed and crouched as low as possible, darting behind the men’s golf carts to listen in.
Ricardo’s face was red, as though he’d been walking the green in the sun. But when he spoke, it was clear the extra coloring was from anger. “I can’t be part of it anymore,” he said. “It was one thing when Chet was here. We worked together and it took the pressure off. But now he’s gone, thanks to you.”
“What are you saying?” Maddox asked.
“You know what I’m saying—I’m saying I’m out.”
Tessa was shocked. Had the two men been working together all along? And what part did Chet Sanborn play?
“Chet shouldn’t have crossed me,” Maddox snarled. The expression looked strange on his usually placid face. “He should’ve given me the money I asked for—not try to play me with that false card.”
“What choice did he have?” Ricardo asked. “When you make a deal, it’s set in stone. You can’t keep changing the terms like you do. Chet needed that money to get the real card back.”
“They were my terms to change. He was still making enough on that deal and you know it.”
Ricardo wavered, conceding defeat. “Fair enough.”
“You aren’t going to make the same mistake Chet did, are you?”
“I’m not.” Ricardo paled a bit and took a step back. “But I want to know one thing—what did Horner do to set you off?”
Maddox’s mouth twisted into a smirk. “He figured out I offed Chet. He was going to tell Melinda. And she would’ve called the police for sure.”
“I’m surprised they haven’t connected the dots.”
His face twisted in derision. “They won’t. All trails lead to Melinda Chino. She doesn’t have the spine for this kind of business. She wants the profit but doesn’t want to do what’s necessary. If I hadn’t gotten rid of Chet, he’d have kept finding ways to cheat the casino.”
“So, she doesn’t know what you did? To Chet or Horner?” Ricardo’s voice wasn’t as strong as before.
Maddox spat on the ground. “She doesn’t have a clue. She just knows the money is safe. I’m the brains and the brawn of our partnership.”
“And what am I? The fall guy?” Ricardo shook his head. “You can’t blackmail me anymore. If I get caught—if the cops catch me cheating, I’ll go to jail, and you won’t say a word to help me out.”
“That’s the risk you take.”
“Chet and I did it for the money, but it’s too hot now. It’s not worth it anymore. I’m out.” He started to walk away from Maddox. “I’m going to get a burger in the club. Then I’m going home. You won’t see me at the casino anymore. Get yourself a new blackjack plant.”
Maddox rushed toward the golf cart, pulling out a club. “Eating animal flesh is disgusting,” he said, raising the club over his head.
Tessa straightened to her full height and crossed her arms.
Seeing her appear seemingly o
ut of nowhere, Maddox faltered. “What are you doing here?”
“Get out of here, Ricardo,” Tessa said, jerking her head toward the club building. “Go call the police.”
Ricardo didn’t move.
“Did you hear all that?” Maddox asked, staring hard at Tessa.
“I did.” Tessa kept her gaze on Maddox even as she saw movement over his shoulder. Something was coming from the top of the hill. “I heard everything. You’re a murderer. A vegan, Birkenstock-wearing, man-bun sporting murderer, which is weird, but still.”
Maddox raised the club again. He rushed toward Tessa. She waited as long as possible. Then, she leaped to the side, yanking Ricardo with her by the arm.
She didn’t know if someone had left the shiny red car in neutral or if they just didn’t set the emergency brake when they parked the car at an angle at the top of the hill. Either way, it gained speed as it careened down the hill and smashed into Maddox, carrying his body with it until it landed nose-first in the water hazard.
Ricardo shouted. He ran up the hill, arms pumping wildly. He only made it halfway before he collapsed, panting and wailing about how sorry he was. How he’d never do anything illegal again if the angry spirits would just let him live. His toupee lurched to the side, so it drooped low over his right ear.
Maddox’s spirit rose out of the creek and stared in disbelief at the tangled pile of metal. He jerked his head toward Tessa, a question on his face. “Did you just kill me?”
She shook her head. “Nope. I facilitated an exchange. A soul for a soul.” She shrugged. “Sometimes, the universe just gets it wrong.”
And sometimes a grim reaper has to take matters into her own hands.
Tessa flicked her wrist, watching as a beam of light shot down from the sky. “Time to go, Maddox.”
For the first time, he looked uneasy. He peered into the light. “Wh . . . where am I going?”
She shrugged. “I have no idea. That’s not my department.”
Chapter 19
Silas handed her the keys to Linda with an adorable wink and a dimple-revealing grin. “She’s as good as new.”
Tessa raised one eyebrow in suspicion. “New? Really?”
He chuckled. “Okay, she’s as good as a thirty-year-old car can be.”
She nodded once. “Perfect. That’s just how I like her. Thanks for the tune-up. I know you don’t have a lot of extra time to be doing work for free.”
“It’s no sweat.” Silas brushed his brow with a forearm, proving it did cost a bit of sweat. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked at his feet. “And you’re right about the time. It’s crazy around this place. But I fit things in when it’s important to me.”
“Linda’s important to you?”
He smiled. “I just don’t want this bucket of rust leaving you on the side of the road.”
That brought up the memory of Frank leaving her on the side of the highway one night. She’d never shake the long, dusty walk home.
What a jerk.
“Thanks. I don’t want that either.” She opened Linda’s driver’s side door and gasped in surprise. “It doesn’t squeak anymore!”
“The magic of grease. I changed out a couple of rusty bolts for you too. And a headlight.”
“I must owe you more money.” She’d insisted that Silas let her at least buy the parts, even though the service was free.
“Nah.” He shook his head. “I didn’t use enough WD-40 to cost you anything.”
“I could really pay you with my next paycheck.” She got in the car and fired it up. It sounded great. Better than great. “She sounds like a new girl.”
The dimples popped from his cheek.
“Thanks again!” Tessa reached for the gear shifter to put Linda in reverse but a knock on the window stopped her. She rolled down the window and gave Silas a questioning look.
“One more thing,” Silas said.
“So, I do owe you money, don’t I!”
He shook his head, still smiling. “I occasionally take a few minutes out to eat dinner. Would you maybe want to go with me sometime?” He kicked at the asphalt. “You know, when you have time. Your new job seems to have odd hours.”
Tessa’s pulse raced. She took a breath in an attempt to get it to settle down. “I think I’d like that, but . . .”
“But?”
“I’m paying,” she said proudly. “It’s the least I could do.” She knew that was true, but she’d have to work it out with her bank account.
“Sounds good.” He grinned widely, nodded, and headed for the building.
Tessa rolled up the window and gave a little squeal. Then she thought about how dating and then breaking up with Frank had cost her a job. Maybe dating her landlord would risk her apartment? At the very least, she’d have to see him every day. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea.
But those thoughts only took a minute to fade away. She didn’t care. He was cute, and he wanted to take her out. It was time she enjoyed herself. After all, what would her dad think?
She sang all the way to the agency. It felt like her feet never touched the ground as she danced inside. She went directly to her mother’s office.
Cheryl glanced up from the computer and then raised her eyebrows. “Why so cheerful? Did the order for my demise come in?”
“Mom!”
Cheryl smirked at her grim joke.
Tessa shrugged and leaned on the door frame. “I don’t know. It’s a nice day.”
“Well, don’t get too excited. You have two assignments today. If you manage to get to them both on time—and not lose any souls—you can call it a nice day.” She went back to tapping on the keyboard.
Tessa entered the office, closing the door behind her. That earned her another questioning glance from her mother.
Tessa sat across the desk from her. “How often does it happen?”
“How often does what happen?” Cheryl’s fingers hovered over the keyboard.
“You know—someone taking another person’s place.”
Cheryl sighed and put her hands in her lap. She eyed the door. “Not often. It’s been known to happen by accident on occasion, but usually, it’s a decision made by the reaper on duty.”
“And it’s allowed?”
“It causes a lot of red tape. What you did yesterday will wind up being years of paperwork. That’s my job.”
“So, I shouldn’t have done it?”
A small smile flitted over Cheryl’s lips, but it disappeared as fast as it came. “I didn’t say that,” she said softly. “But Ricardo may wish you’d done something else. He’s probably going to spend a lot of time in jail.”
“Melinda was hopping mad. I’m sure she’ll press charges.” The casino boss had been in the golf club when everything went down. Everything was madness. An ambulance, fire trucks, and police officers had descended on the country club in short order.
When Tessa got back from escorting Maddox across the veil, she’d made sure Ricardo came clean on the whole thing with a threat of taking him next.
Both women chuckled.
“So, I get to keep my job?” Tessa tipped her head and studied her mother’s features.
“For now.” Cheryl nodded. “In fact, you’ve earned yourself a spot at the annual conference in Florida. You and Gloria can go together and share a hotel room.”
“Wait. There’s a reaper conference once a year? In Florida?”
“There is. And it’s not always in Florida. It’s usually somewhere tropical. Or Vegas.” Cheryl shuddered. “I’m not going to be able to get away for it this year. So, you and Gloria will represent our office.”
For some reason, the idea of a bunch of reapers sitting in a conference room watching PowerPoint slideshows made Tessa want to belly laugh. But the idea of an all-expenses-paid getaway was a welcome one.
“The company pays for this?” Tessa asked.
“We do.” Cheryl paused and squinted at Tessa. “And I’ll expect you both to behave and comport yoursel
ves with dignity.” Her tone held a note of warning that Tessa was quite familiar with. She’d heard it every time she went out with her friends as a teenager.
“I’ll try.” She got up to leave and turned at the door. “I can’t speak for Gloria, though. She seems a little wild.” Tessa winked.
“Theresa.” Cheryl’s voice was soft and gentle. “One more thing.”
Tessa froze. Another one more thing. And this one didn’t sound as good as Silas’ offer. Something was strange about her mother’s tone of voice. Tessa didn’t dare make eye contact. Not even to correct her use of the long form of her name.
“I’m sorry about your dad,” Cheryl said. “I knew what he was going to do that day. He didn’t say it outright, but I knew. And I didn’t stop him. I didn’t know what to do.”
“Mom, it’s—"
“I should have stopped him.” Cheryl’s voice broke. “But . . . but I didn’t want to lose either of you. I wish I had my own Maddox.”
Tessa turned around slowly, seeing tears skid down her mother’s cheeks.
“Actually, I do know what I should have done. I shouldn’t have let him take your place. I should have done it. And I regret every day that I didn’t.” She wiped her cheek, chin quivering.
Feeling a wave of empathy, Tessa rushed forward. She knelt in front of Cheryl and squeezed her hand. “No, don’t say that, Mom. I’m so glad you’re here.”
Cheryl met Tessa’s gaze and smiled. Something released inside Tessa. She realized she’d been angry with her mother. Mad that she hadn’t somehow found a way to save Michael Randolph. But as she held her mom’s hand, she felt a wave of forgiveness. It wasn’t Cheryl’s fault.
With one last squeeze, Tessa stood. “I’d better go. I don’t want to be late for my assignment."
“Definitely not.” Cheryl hiccupped.
“Yeah. My boss is a real dragon lady.” She winked and left the office, her mother’s laugh following her out.
When Tessa got outside, she lowered the sunglasses from the top of her head to her face and turned toward the sun, feeling happy. It was almost the best season in Mist River, Michigan. Summer. She had a date with a cutie landlord. Her junker car was running great. And she had a new job she was good at. And not just a job that anyone could do, but a real career.